BLueS
FUNKY BLUES, CONT’D
from Power Trio Blues Guitar
(00695028)
The guitar in funk and funk blues often imitates the sound of a horn section as it previously did to a somewhat lesser extent in R&B and soul
music. Example 2 contains two of the main horn-type riffs characteristic of the genre. On beat 2 of both the I and IV chords in measures 1–8, a
half-step slide or gliss (from glissando) from the E7 and A7 triple stops to E% 7 and A% 7 and back is the essence of harmony found in the music.
Be aware that sliding into notes or chords from above or below is a hallmark of the “organic” nature of the blues and related genres. Similarly,
the sliding 6-9 forms on beat 4 of measures 1–8 also impart sensuous harmonic movement often played by horn sections in the “funk.” As a consistent happening in almost all 12-bar blues, measure 9 of the V chord is a critical juncture where the forward motion, inherent in the I–IV changes of measures 1–8, reverses direction back to eventual resolution on the I chord in measure 11. Consequently, measure 9 consists of a B major,
walking bass line combined with a classic double-stop blues lick further confirming the major tonality of the chord change. Measure 10 of the IV
chord follows with a descending, walking bass line from the A Mixolydian mode with the added F note that leads logically into E at measure 11.
Notice the absence of a turnaround in order to keep the groove “on the good foot,” percolating “on the 1.”
Example 2
&
####44oe oeoeoe n oeoeoe bb n oeoeoe nn# oe
E7 E¯ 7 E7
Moderate Funk oe = 130
oeoeoe oeoeoe oeoeoe E9 E6 E9 E7
oe
oeoeoe n oeoeoe bb n oeoeoe nn# oe
oeoeoe oeoeoe oeoeoe E9 E6 E9 E7
oe
oeoeoe n oeoeoe bb n oeoeoe nn oe
oeoeoe oeoeoe oeoeoe E9 E6 E9
T
A
B
7
7
6
7
6
5
6
7
6
77
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9
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9
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77
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77
7
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9
9
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7
7
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7
oe
E7
&
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oeoeoe n oeoeoe bb n oeoeoe nn# oe
E¯ 7 E7
oeoeoe oeoeoe oeoeoe E9 E6 E9
A7
oe
oeoeoe n oeoeoe bb n oeoeoe nn oe
oeoeoe oeoeoe oeoeoe
oe
oeoeoe n oeoeoe bb n oeoeoe nn oe
oeoeoe oeoeoe oeoeoe
7
6
7
6
5
6
7
6
77
7
7
7
9
9
9
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5
4
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4
3
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4
55
7
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4
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5
4
5
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3
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55
oe
E7
&
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oeoeoe n oeoeoe bb n oeoeoe nn# oe
E¯ 7 E7
oeoeoe oeoeoe oeoeoe E9 E6 E9 E7
oe
oeoeoe n oeoeoe bb n oeoeoe nn# oe
E ¯ 7 E7
oeoeoe oeoeoe oeoeoe E9 E6 E9
B
oe
‰ joeoe
oe
oeoe joen oeoe
7
6
7
6
5
6
7
6
77
7
7
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9
9
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77
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97
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8
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9
7
&
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oe
A7
oeoen oeoeoeoen oe
oe
oeoeoe n oeoeoe bb n oeoeoe nn# oe
oeoeoe oeoeoe oeoeoe E9 E6 E9
E7 E¯ 7 E7
oe
oeoeoe n oeoeoe bb n oeoeoe nn# oe
oeoeoe oeoeoe oeoeoe E9 E6 E9
7
6
7
6
5
6
7
6
77
7
7
7
9
9
9
7
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7
9
9
9
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7
7
7
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6
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55332211
112 PREMIER GUITAR NOVEMBER 2010
www.premierguitar.com
